
PRELIMINARY REPORT 



TO THE 



Alfalfa : Irrigation : and : Land : Co. 



ON 



ALFALFA 



... BY 



Pump Irrigation 



WESTERN KANSAS. 



• • 



By H. V. HINCKLEY, 




Consulting Engineer 



Kansas Irrigation Association. 
Kansas Irrigation Commission. 
State Board of Irrigation. 



• e • 



Copyrighted 1895. 
atl rights reserved by the author. 




Class _ 

Book 

Copyiightl^^_ 



Sfcl3 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 






PRELIMINARY REPORT 



... TO THE 



Alfalfa -. Irrigation -. and : Land : Co. 



ON 



ALFALFA 



. BY 



Pump Irrigation 



. . IN 



WESTERN KANSAS 



/ 




^0 ^ct f 



By H. V. HINCKLEY, 

I Kansas Irrigation Association. 
Consulting Engineer Kansas Irrigation Commission. 
I State Board of Irrigation. 



Copyrighted i8q5. 
/\ll rights reserved by the author, 



TOPEKA, KANSAS: 

THE HALL & O'DONALD LITHO. CO. 

49529. 



^•3 



ToPEKA, Kansas, May i, 1895. 

Hon. Martin Mohler, President The Alfalfa Trrigatioti and Land Co., 
Topeka, Kansas, 
Dear Sir: In regard to the proposed irrigation of 
your land in Western Kansas, I beg to report as follows 
upon the water supply, cost of utilizing it, and prospective 
profits from alfalfa growing: 

LANDS. 

While not personally acquainted with many of the in- 
dividual tracts owned by your company, I know their 
general location, and my sixteen years with the Atchison 
Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company, and two years 
investigation of irrigation possibilities for Kansas, have 
made me sufficiently familiar wath the general character 
of the counties in which they lie to say safely that ninety 
per cent of their area (though now almost barren on ac- 
count of insufficient rainfall during the growing season), 
will, with the artificial application of sufficient water, 
grow better paying crops than the average now raised 
on the best bottom lands of the Eastern States. 

THE CLIMATE. 

The climate in western Kansas, except as to rainfall, 
is favorable to maximum plant growth. Mist, fog and 
" dog days " are unknown, and the Government records 
show an almost unbroken line of "clear" days. The 
constant breezes, averaging a yearly travel of over 105,- 
000 miles, or twelve miles an hour night and day, are 
sufficient to produce lively respiration and growth, and 
to dry up and kill ordinary crops that are short of water. 

ALFALFA 

Is the best paying crop of those that require but little 
attention, and is the hardiest in dry soils and dry seasons. 
There are plenty of alfalfa fields in Kansas, which by 
irrigation, net from $25 to $40 per acre per annum, after 



pajnng for water and all labor. The average gross yield 
per acre (hay and seed), under irrigation, according to 
the report of the Kansas World's Fair Commission, 
1894 (page 132), is $36 a year, the expense being $5.10 
and the net profit $30.90. Where water is twelve to 
twenty-five feet below the surface, and the seed is har- 
vested, the average result, irrigated and unirrigated is 
about as follows: 

YIELD. 

5 bushels of seed at *3.50 $17.50 

3 tons of hay at $3.00 9.00 

Total ■ .f26.50 

EXPENSE. 

Harvesting two hay crops at 90 cents f 1 . SO 

Gathering seed 3 . 50 

Total 15.05 

Net profit .121.45 

Net profit on seed crop alone 14 . 25 

WATER DUTY FOR ALFALFA. 

The duty of water carefully measured as actually used 
in Colorado, for the years 1889 and 1890, on 400,000 
acres, embracing the great potato and alfalfa districts, 
averages 226 acres per cubic foot per second, or a 
depth of thirteen iwches in 120 days, including the rain- 
fall during that period. "In California, alfalfa is grown 
with the most gratifying success, under a rainfall of less 
than 10 inches, on land irrigated with a miner's inch of 
water to each four or five acres." This corresponds 
with a dut}^ of 200 to 250 acres per cubic foot per 
second, or a total depth in 120 da3S of from twelve to 
fourteen inciies. 

On the desert sands of Arizona, twenty-four inches of 
water in the season, without rainfall, gives 7.5 tons of 
alfalfa per acre. On J. H. McClellan's farm, at Fort 
Collins, Colorado, alfalfa, under ten inches of rainfall, 
uses ten to twelve inches of irrigation, giving three 



cuttings of alfalfa, the soil being sand, clay and gravel. 
On the coarse sands of the Salt Lake desert, the mean 
duty of a cubic foot per second is 256 acres, the alfalfa 
on 24,000 acres yielding on an average four tons per 
acre, and as high as ten tons per acre, the average crop 
grown being 1,020 pounds for each inch in depth of 
water applied. This corresponds to a crop of 6.12 tons 
per acre. Professor Robert Hay (geologist) says, "one 
inch of water every ten days is ample for plant growth 
in this [Kansas] latitude." 

From my personal familiarity with the lands covered 
by the above official reports, a general knowledge of the 
character of your lands, and a comprehensive study of the 
"duty" problem, I am satisfied that on such of your 
lands as can be given a depth of twelve inches of water 
in a growing season of 120 da3^s, with the assistance of 
the rainfall, with proper care in getting a good "stand" 
the first year, and with pumps having a little surplus 
power so that the most w^ater may be pumped when 
most needed, you will be able to get more than the 
average irrigated crop every year; for the average Kan- 
sas irrigator uses wind power, or is a canal patron, and, 
in either case, is short of water when most needed, 
while with gasoline you can pump whether the wind 
blows or not, and the immediate supply is independent of 
the visible flow of the streams; in fact, you will have the 
most favorable conditions possible for a good crop every 
year. On some of the lands six inches of water during 
the 120 days will probably give an average crop, if the 
pump be slightly in excess of needs, as per Table i, so 
that the water may be had to the greatest extent in the 
dryest time. 

While alfalfa responds readily to irrigation, its roots 



will go ten, twenty or thirty feet if necessary to water. 
C. W. Irish, chief of the irrigation inquiry. United 
States Department of Agriculture, says: "It will grow 
well and produce at least one crop every j^ear in very 
dry regions, without irrigation." This statement, in my 
opinion, is made more correct by adding, "if the sub- 
soil gets some moisture during the first growing season, 
so that the roots are encouraged to go down to nature's 
moisture," for there is always some moisture beneath 
any well-cultivated surface that gets any rain. In gen- 
e)"al, those of your lands that have the scantiest supply 
of underflow have the best soils and subsoils for retain- 
ing moisture, and on these lands one good crop of alfalfa, 
or a good seed crop and a half crop of hay, is a not 
unreasonable expectation; especially if a little water 
— say three inches — can be pumped onto it during the 
first growing season, or prior thereto, and stored in the 
subsoils to make the first year's "stand." 

The general rule for alfalfa in Kansas is about as fol- 
lows: With favorable conditions four crops of hay, or 
three of hay and one of seed. With unfavorable condi- 
tions, one crop of either hay or seed. The expense of 
the seed crop is generally paid in full from the hay of 
that cutting, which sells at one-half to three-fourths of 
the price of the regular hay crop. 

RAINFALL. 

The average annual rainfall on your lands is from six- 
teen to twenty-one inches, the general average being about 
eighteen inches. In 1883 and 1884, when the annual 
fall was thirty inches, settlers rusiied onto the Govern- 
ment lands with the hope that an increasing rainfall 
would prove ample for successful agriculture. This 



hope was blasted, and fully a quarter of a million people 
abandoned their claims and moved away. As a conse- 
quence western Kansas in general is'becoming more of 
a cattle country, hence the demand for alfalfa for winter- 
fattening beef. Fifteen pounds a day fed to steers in 
winter makes one hundred pounds of beef per ton, and 
spring prices are higher than fall prices. A glance at 
the following table reveals the fact that Kansas rainfall 
is not to be depended upon for successful agriculture: 

TABLE No. I. 



Record of Precipitation for Tv^^enty Years at 
Dodge City. 



Year 


3 




o 


> 
|2_ 




a 
? 




> 




•a 


O 
o 


!2! 




a 




1875 


0.12 


0.10 


0.04 


0.71 


2.26 


0.78 


3.28 


2.06 


1.32 


0.06 


0.00 


0.09 


10.77 


1876 


0.00 


0.05 


3.59 


0.16 


1.15 


2.53 


2.26 


1.03 


2.13 


1.00 


1.35 


0.15 


15.40 


1877 


0.18 


0.56 


0.25 


8.88 


4.96 


3.92 


1.79 


4.09 


0.50 


3.34 


0.56 


4.36 


27.89 


1878 


0.21 


1.13 


1.01 


1.06 


4.68 


2.19 


1.61 


4.48 


0.76 


0.09 


0.60 


0.19 


17.96 


1879 


0.87 


0.08 


0.17 


0.40 


0.90 


4.40 


3.90 


3.75 


0.80 


0.00 


0.04 


0.12 


15.48 


1880 


0.00 


0.00 


0.04 


0.11 


3.83 


1.59 


4.00 


5.17 


0.32 


1.42 


2.43 


0.03 


18.44 


1881 


0.15 


1.63 


0.50 


2.38 


12.82 


1.77 


5.06 


2.86 


8.13 


2.19 


0.95 


0.61 


33.55 


1882 


0.52 


0.22 


0.24 


0.68 


8 87 


1.51 


3.04 


1.07 


0.15 


1.62 


0.11 


0.11 


13.14 


1883 


0.44 


1.42 


0.42 


2.40 


5.41 


4.81 


2.61 


5.66 


1.32 


3.82 


0.12 


1.07 


28.50 


1884 


0.08 


0.28 


1.91 


1.07 


4.47 


7.67 


6.40 


4.82 


0.23 


1.50 


0.83 


1.10 


30.36 


1885 


0.52 


0.47 


0.75 


1.39 


4.07 


2.02 


6.08 


1.80 


3.48 


1.06 


0.36 


1.76 


23.71 


1886 


1.82 


0.46 


1.50 


1.90 


0.40 


5.47 


2.07 


2.46 


2.88 


0.45 


0.24 


0.25 


19.35 


1887 


0.07 


0.53 


0.17 


2.46 


3.69 


4.00 


1.00 


2.28 


0.14 


0.48 


0.35 


0.54 


15.71 


1888 


0.23 


0.73 


0.93 


4.08 


2.86 


5.16 


4.07 


3.00 


0.78 


0.81 


0.06 


0.28 


22.94 


1889 


1.69 


0.84 


1.88 


2.12 


1.54 


3.43 


2.02 


2.14 


0.86 


2.88 


0.77 


0.00 


19.17 


1890 


0.42 


0.39 


0.05 


2.90 


1.19 


1.00 


0.22 


3.45 


0.57 


0.89 


0.50 


0.14 


11.72 


1891 


0.98 


0.27 


3.32 


2.76 


3.36 


6.27 


5.16 


1.36 


4.56 


8.38 


0.12 


0.85 


82.34 


1892 


0.25 


1.01 


2.62 


0.40 


8.28 


3.34 


0.66 


4.69 


1.04 


0.78 


0.31 


1.88 


19.66 


1893 


0.02 


0.34 


0.00 


0.04 


1.81 


0.76 


3.32 


1.82 


1.74 


0.25 


0.42 


0.10 


10.12 


1894 


0.04 


1.03 


0.40 


1.88 


0.95 


2.80 


2.05 


0.15 


2.08 


0.62 


0.03 


0.62 


12.60 



THE WATER SUPPLY. 

The subterranean sheet water, or underflow, which is 
found under almost the entire area of western Kansas, 
is suppHed by the downward passage of the rainfall, 
supplemented sometimes in the valleys by horizontal 
seepage from the streams. This underflow varies in 
depth and thickness in different localities, depending 
upon the topography and geology. In the valle}- proper 
of the Arkansas, for example, it has been sounded in 
different places to a depth of i,ooo and 1,300 feet; 
while on some of the divides it has been found to be only 
one or two feet in thickness. To make an exact calcula- 
tion of the water supply available for the irrigation of 
any particular tract of land is impossible. The supply 
for a majority of your tracts can be determined only by 
sinking and testing wells thereon. But after two years 
devoted almost entirely to the study of the western 
Kansas water supply, I am able to make an approximate 
estimate of the supply available for your lands, as fol- 
lows: 

45,000 acres — ampl^ supply for twelve inches of water 
each season over the entire area, producing more than 
average crops. 

20,000 acres — probable supply of six inches during 
each growing season, and an additional six inches during 
winter and spring for saturating the subsoil, producing 
good average crops. 

25,000 acres — supply of three inches during growing 
season, producing small crops — one cutting only per an- 
num. 

In the above estimate I have omitted ten per cent as 
being possibly too sand}' or too broken to be irrigated to 
advantage, and also to allow for public roads, buildings, 



driveways, pump- houses, etc.; leaving a net irrigable 
area of 90,000 acres. 

As to pumping for irrigation purposes, it is being done 
successfully all over western Kansas, by those (probably 
2,000 farmers) who have been able to put in pumps of 
any kind. Wherever the water is found in the substrata 
of sand eighty or ninety per cent of it is readily pumped 
out, and the pumping method gives a more reliable sup- 
ply than the canals which take water from the rivers, the 
rivers generally going dry just at the time when the 
water is most needed. 

The storage of rainfall above ground in western Kan- 
sas is (generally) impracticable on account of losses by 
evaporation and percolation. 

The subterranean reservoirs provided by nature are 
beyond the evaporative influences of wind and sun. 

POWER TABLES. 

Table No. 2 shows first cost and annual expense for 
fuel and repairs of gasoline engines adapted to the irri- 
gation of 160 acres each, with water fifteen to 150 feet 
below the surface, and for depths of twelve, six and 
three inches of water each season. 

Table No. 3 shows net horse power of a ten-foot wind- 
mill, as carefully determined at the State Agricultural 
College, for the year 1891; also of a fourteen-foot wind- 
mill, upon the basis of the same winds as of 1891, and 
the amount of water which a fourteen-foot windmill 
will pump each month of the year. 

Table No. 4 gives cost of fourteen-foot windmill, 
which is the largest size in general use, and the number 
of acre-feet of water which it will pump. 

Table No. 5 compares gasoline power with wind power. 



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TABLE No. 3. 

Net H. p. (Useful Work) of Fourteen - Foot 
Windmill, 

Based on actual performance of io=ft. Mill for the year 1891, at the 

STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
(Equivalent constant wind, 14 miles per hour.) 

(H. V. H. Irrig. Rep. Vol. XXXIII., No. 10, pp. 111-115.) 



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12 

CHECKS ON TABLE NO. 3. 

Windmill catalogues give such variable capacities for 
mills of the same size that I have thought best, in addi- 
tion to the check [c) given in the bottom of Table No. 3, 
to add the following: "At Tribune, Eugene Tilleux 
pumped with an eight-foot windmill, and a lift of 120 
feet, onto one acre, half the season. He then abandoned 
three-fourths of it, and pumped onto one-fourth acre only 
for one-half the season, in which the one-fourth acre re- 
ceived not over six inches of water. He says with a 
reservoir he could have given the quarter acre a foot of 
water. Therefore, the duty of the eight-foot mill with 
reservoir, would be tw^o feet in depth on one-fourth acre, 
or one-half an acre-foot. A fourteen-foot mill should, 
therefore, have a duty during the growing season of 1.5 
acres. By Table No. 3, from May 15 to September 15, 
the duty for 120 feet lift is 1.83 acre-foot. While based 
upon the work of the eight-foot mill in July and August 
at one-fourth of an acre six inches deep, a fourteen-foot 
mill should furnish three-fourths of an acre six inches 
deep (.375 of an acre-foot), while Table No. 3 gives .67 
of an acre-foot. The results in the table being both 
above and below the actual work reported, is as near a 
check as can be obtained, without more accurate deter- 
mination of the water pumped. 

D. M. Frost, of Garden City, reports that his fourteen- 
foot mill,(i5-ft. lift) for May, June, July and Aug., 1894, 
pumped (as near as he could tell by careful computation,) 
14.5 acre-feet, while the table gives 14.14 acre-foot. 
Columns ten and eleven of Table No. 3, show that during 
May, June, July and August, with lifts of twelve and 
twenty-five feet, a dejith of twelve inclies may be sup- 



13 



plied to fourteen and eight acres respectively. This cor- 
responds with the acreage actually being irrigated with 
windmills at Garden City, with those depths to water; 
though some irrigators get along with less depth of water 
and make it cover twenty acres. 

I. L,. Diesem, of Garden City, with lift of seventeen 
feet and a fourteen-foot mill, gives twelve inches of water 
during May, June, July and August to ten acres. One 
year to thirteen acres. By table the dut}^ would be 12.5 
acres. 

P. C. Morgan, near Garden City, has lift of fifty-one 
feet and an eight-foot mill. He reports "over nine 
acres " irrigated January to September, or two acres, 
June, July and August. By table, we would get six 
inches on 9.7 acres, January to September, and 1.85 acres 
in the three summer months. 

S. T. Percell, Grainfield, has lift of 143 feet and a ten- 
foot mill. He reports two to four-acre inches per month. 
Table gives 1.5 to 3.5. 

TABLE No. 4. 

Cost of Fourteen- Foot Windmill Plant and of 
Windmill Power. 





Mill, tow 
er, pip^, 
rod and 
spout, all 
on cars at 
nearest 
railroad 
station. 


D ravage 
$5 . 00, 

reservoir 
$50.00, 

and well 

@ 50 cts. 


Total. 


Repairs 

and 
renewals 

per 

annum 

@ 10 per 

cent. 


From Table 

No. 8. 


First 
cost per 
acre tor 3 
inches of 
water in 

May, 

June, 

and Aug. 


Lift. 

{Feet.) 


Acre 
feet per 
annum. 


Acre feet 
May, 
June, 
July. 

and Aug 


1 

15 
25 
50 
75 
100 
150 


2 
$215.00 
215.00 
215.00 
215.00 
215.00 
215.00 


3 
$62.00 
67.00 
80.00 
92.00 
105.00 
130.00 


4 
$277.00 
282.00 
295.00 
307.00 
320.00 
345.00 


5 
$27.70 
28.20 
29.50 
30.70 - 
32,00 
31.50 


6 

61 
36 
18 
12 
9 
6 


7 
/14.15 
8.47 
4.23 
2.83 
2.12 
1.41 


8 
$4.90 
8.32 
17.44 
27.12 
37.44 
61.77 



''Ideal" prices 1-14-95. 



14 



TABLE No. 5- 

Comparative Cost of Water by Gasoline and Wind 

Power. 

(.\nnaal Expense Capitalized @ 6;C ) 
(14-foot Windmill.) 
A— Per acre foot per annum. 





GASOLINE 








WIND. ( 


5) 




Lift. 


Cost 

of 
plant. 

(1) 


Fuel 

X 
JLJia 

6 


Repairs 

etc. 1(J5^ 

X 

ilUi 
6 

(3) 


Total. 


Cost 

of 
plant. 

|4) 


Fuel 
X 


Repairs 

etc. lo^t 

X 

J_lliL 

6 


Totai. 


Cost by 
wind 

cost by 
gasoline. 


(1) 

15 ft. 

25 ft. 

-50 ft. 

75 ft. 
100 ft 
150 ft. 


(2) 
$1.05 
1.52 
2.04 
2.61 
3.29 
5.33 


(3) 

$11.11 
16.67 
37.00 
50.00 
74.00 

111.11 


(4) 
$1.75 
2.-53 
3.60 
4.35 
5.48 
8.88 


^5) 

$13.91 
20.72 
42.64 
56.96 
82.77 

125.32 


(6) 
$4.-54 

7.84 
16.40 
25.58 
35.55 
57.50 


(7) 


$7.57 
18.07 
27.33 
42.63 
59.25 
95.83 


(9) 

$12.11 
20.91 
43.73 
68.21 
94.80 

153.33 


(10) 
$0.87 
1.01 
1.02 
1.20 
1.15 
1.22 



B — Fer acre foot i'l 130 days. 



15 ft 
25 ft. 
-50 ft. 

75 It 
100 ft. 
150 ft. 



3.15 


11.11 


5.25 


19.-51 


19.-57 




32.62 


52.19 


4.-57 


16.67 


7.61 


28.85 


33.29 




-55.48 


88.77 


6 12 


37.00 


10.20 


53.32 


69.74 




116.23 


185.97 


7.82 
9.86 


50.00 


13.03 


70.85 


108.48 




180.60 


289.08 


74.00 


16.43 


100.29 


1-50.95 




2-51.58 


402.-53 


15.98 


111.11 


26.63 


153.72 


244.68 




407.80 


652.48 



2.67 
3.08 
3.49 
4.08 
4.01 
4.24 



C— Per acre foot 6 inclies in 130 days. (6.) 



15 ft. 

25 ft. 

50 ft. 

75 ft. 
100 ft. 
1-50 ft 



5.68 
6 00 
8.96 
11.92 
12.24 
15.64 



11.11 
16.67 
37.00 
.50.00 
74.00 
111.11 



9.80 
10.00 
14.93 
19.86 
20.40 
26.06 



26.59 
32.67 
60.89 
81.78 
106.64 
152.81 



(7J 
19.57 
33.29 
69.74 
108.48 
1-50.95 
244.68 



32.62 
55.48 
116.23 
180.60 
251.58 
407.80 



52.19 
88.77 
185.97 
289.08 
402.. 53 
652.48 



1.96 
2.72 
3.05 
3.05 
3.77 
4.27 



D-r 


er acre 


foot 3 


inches 


in 120 days. 


«.) 








75 ft 
100 ft. 
150 ft. 


16.08 
19.36 
25.33 


50.00 
74 00 
111.11 


26 80 
82.26 
42 22 


92 88 
125 62 
178.66 


(7) 
108.48 
1-50.95 
244.68 




180.60 
2.51.58 
407.80 


289.08 
402.-53 
6.52.48 


3.11 
3.20 
3.(55 



1. Col. 14 of table 2-^3. 



2. As in table 2. 

3. (As in table 2-i 



3) x^r 



Col. 4 



, table 4. 



Col. 6 

.\crc ft. per Col. 6, table 4. 



6. Gasoline one foot : Wind (May, June, July and 

August) per Col. 7, table 4. 

7. Col. 4 + 7, table 4. 

S. Gasoline 6 inches : Wind (May, June, July and 

August) per Col. 7, table 4. 
i". Gasoline 3 Inches: Wind (May, June, July and 

August) per Col. 7, table 4. 
Irregularity of ratio in Col. 10 is due to size of 
gasoline engines not having a uniforiu % above 
H. P. required. Purpose i I this table not 
affected thereby. 



GASOLINE VERSUS COAL. 

For walerworks pumping in Kansas, where constant 
attendance is necessary for possible fire pumping, and 
where tiie pumps arc handy to raih-oads, steam-power 



15 

is used and is best adapted. With no coal mines in 
western Kansas, and bituminous coal selling at $4.50, 
the cost for coal and gasoline power along the railroads 
is nearly the same, leaving engineer and foreman out of 
the account. Gasoline engines are self-feeding, and need 
only to be looked after from two to six times a da3^ 
The laborer who is applying the water to the ground 
can also watch the engine. In this way at least one 
man's labor is saved, and gasoline power is cheaper than 
coal power. The difference becomes greater as we get 
away from the railroads, on account of the haul on coal, 
the coal being several times heavier than gasoline for 
the same power. 

GASOLINE VERSUS WIND. 

So many windmills have been put to use for irriga- 
tion pumping the past two years in western Kansas 
(probably 2,000) that one naturally concedes that they 
are the cheapest power, but such is not the case. They 
have been put in because the purchasers were starting 
experiments on small areas, usually seven to ten acres 
each, and after years of crop failures they must needs 
buy what their means would permit, and the smaller size 
gasoline engines were generall}^ too costly for them. 
Comparing column 8 of Table 4-with column i^ of Table 
X-C, we notice that the first cost of windmills is from 
six to ten times the first cost of gasoline engines of the 
same duty. The annual expense for fuel brings the 
capitalized values nearer together, but even on these 
column 10 of Table ^ shows windmills to be generally 
from two to four times as expensive as gasoline plants. 



i6 

DEPTHS TO WATER. 

The following is an approximate statement of your 
Superintendent, Geo. W. Watson: 

25,000 acres, average depth 25 feet. 
20,000 acres, average depth 30 feet. 
20,000 acres, average depth 70 feet. 
25,000 acres, average depth 125 feet. 

COST OF GASOLINE PUMPING PLANTS. 

Based upon the above estimate of water supply, and 

depths to water, I compute the cost of necessary pumps, 

engines, engine houses, wells, etc., complete in place, as 

follows: 

TABLE No. 6. 

25,000 acres, average lift twenty-five feet, twelve inches of 

water in 120 days, per table No. 2-A, at $4.57 $114,250 

20,000 acres, average lift thirty feet, twelve inches of water 

in 120 days, per table No. 2-A, at $4.88 97,600 

10,000 acres, average lift thirty feet, six inches of water in 120 
days, per table No. 2-B, at $5.66 56,600 



$268,450 
10,000 acres, average lift seventy feet, three inches 

of water in in 120 days, per table 2-C, at $3.89 .... $38,9(X) 
25,000 acres, average lift 125 feet, three inches of 

water in 120 days, per table 2-C, at $5 58 139,500 

In place of permanent pumping plants for the last two items 
I recommend the purchase of, say twelve portable plants, 
costing about J 2,(XX) 

Making a total outlay for pumping jilants of $280,450 

These temporary plants will serve the double purpose 
of wetting the subsoil to give the alfalfa a good start, 
and of testing the water supply below. Wherever the 
supply proves ample for irrigation to the extent of six, or 
even three inches, during each growing season, pei"ma- 
nent plants may be elected in time for next year's water- 
ing; and in place of one good crop, as estimated in the 
annual statements herinafter, the result will be two or 
three good crops. 



17 

NET YIELDS. 

When all the lands are in alfalfa the net yields should 

be about as follows: 

TABLE No. 7. 

45,000 acres good crops at $24.00 an acre $1,080,000 

20,000 acres, average crops at $18.00 an acre 360,000 

25,000 acres, one good seed crop at $12.00 300,000 

Total annual net revenue $1,740,000 

But these results cannot be realized immediately. To 
do the work properly on the 65,000 acres first mentioned 
in Table No. 7 will require six or eight years. In the 
last item, (25,000 acres,) the twelve portable engines 
running ten months of the year, and pumping 120 days 
for each quarter section, will give one three-inch irriga- 
tion to less than 5,000 acres a year, requiring six years 
to bring the 25,000 acres into profitable service. When 
rains come at the right time, this work maybe materially 
hastened, but it is not safe to figure much on the rain- 
fall, except as conserved in the subsoil for the roots. It 
is not to be depended on for starting seed or getting a 
stand of alfalfa. In the following statements, in order 
to be conservative, and to allow for miscalculations and 
mistakes in management, I place net profits at two-thirds 
of those given in Table No. 7, although the latter are 
below the average realized and ofBcially reported: 
STATEriENT FIRST YEAR. 

EXPENSES. 

5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 25 feet, at $4.57 $22,850 

One year's fuel and repairs, at $1.46 7,300 

4,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 80 feet, at $4.88 19,520 

One year's fuel and repairs, at $1.73 6,920 

2,000 acres, pumping plants for" 6 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at $5.66 11,320 

One year's fuel and repairs, at $2.13 4,260 

12 portable pumping plants at $1,000 12,000 

2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 



3,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 $5,400 

Breaking and preparing 16, OCX) acres (less 4,000 now in wheat), 

12,00) acres at $2.00 24,000 

Putting in alfalfa, 16,000 acres, at .t2.25 36,0X3 

Putting in shade crop of barley, 16,000 acres, at 50 cents 8,000 

Taxes 20,000 

Int-rest, 5 per cent on $300,000. .-. 15,aX) 

Engineering and general supervision 15,000 

Total $209,750 

RECEIPTS. 

Barley, 11,000 acres, at 25 bushels, at 40 cents $110,000 

N et expense $99,750 

STATEriENT SECOND YEAR. 

EXPENSES. 
5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 25 feet, at $4.57 $22,850 

10,000 acres, fuel and repairs at $1.46 14,600 

4,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 30 feet, at $4.88 19,520 

8,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.73 13,840 

2,0(X) acres, pumping plants for 6 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 f'eet, at $5.66 11,320 

4,000 acres, fuel and repairs at $2.13 8,520 

2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 

3,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 5,400 

Breaking and preparing 16,000 acres (less 4,000 now in wheat), 

12,000 acres, at $2.00 24,000 

Putting in alfalfa, 16,0)0 acres, at $2.25 36,(XK) 

Putting in shade crop of barley, 16,000 acres, at 50 cents 8,00) 

Taxes 20,0)0 

Interest, 5 per cent on $300,000. 15,0)0 

Engineering and general supervision 15,000 

Total $216,230 

RECEIPTS. 

11,0)0 acres barley, at 25 bushels, at 40 cents $110,000 

9,000 acres alfalfa, good crops, $lS.O) 162,OX) 

2,(X)0 acres alfalfa, average crop, $12.00 24,0)0 

5,OM) acres alfalfa, one cutting, $8.0) 40,0)0 

Total $336,000 

Net receipts $119,770 

STATEriENT THIRD YE\R. 

EXPENSES. 

5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 25 feet, at $4.57 $22,850 

I5,(K)() acres, fuel and repairs at $1.46 21,90) 

4,(MH) acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 30 feet, at $4.88 10,520 

J2,()()U acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.73 20,760 



19 

2,000 acres, pumping plants for 6 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at 15.66 $11,320 

6,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $2.13 12,780 

2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 

3,000 acres, fuel and rer airs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 5,400 

Breaking and preparing 16,000 acres ( less 3,000 now in wheat ), » 

13,000 acres, at $2.00 26,000 

Putting in alfalfa, 16,000 acres, at $2.25 36,000 

Putting in shade crop of barley, 16,000 acres, at 50 cents 8,000 

Taxes 20,000 

Interest, 5 per cent on $300,000 15,000 

Engineering and general supervision 15,000 

Total $236,710 

RECEIPTS. 

Barley, 11,000 acres, at 25 bushels, at 40 cents $110,000 

Alfalfa, 18,000 acres, good crops, at $18.00 324,000 

Alfalfa, 4,000 acres, average crops, at $12.00 48,000 

Alfalfa, 10,000 acres, one cutting, at $8.00 80,000 

Total $562,000 

Net receipts $325,290 

STATEnENT FOURTH YEAR. 

EXPENSES. 
5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 25 feet, at $4.57 $22,850 

20,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.46 29,200 

4,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 30 feet, at $4.88 19,520 

16,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.73 27,680 

2,000 acres, pumping plants for 6 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at $5.66 11,320 

8,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $2.13 17,040 

2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 

3,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 5,400 

Breaking and preparing 16,000 acres (less 2,000 acres now in 

wheat), 14,000 acres, at $2.00 ■. . . 28,000 

Putting in alfalfa, 16,000 acres at $2.25 36,000 

Putting in shade crop of barley, at 50c 8,000 

Taxes 20,000 

Interest, 5 per cent on $300,000 15,000 

Engineering and general supervision 15,000 

Total $257,190 

RECEIPTS. 

Barley, 11,000 acres, at 25 bushels, at 40c $110,000 

Alfalfa, 27,000 acres, good crops, at $18.00 486,000 

Alfalfa, 6,000 acres, average crops, at $12.00 72,000 

Alfalfa, 15,000 acres, one cutting, at $8.00 120,000 

Total $788,000 

Net receipts , , $530,810 



20 
STATEHENT FIFTH YEAR. 

EXPENSES. 

5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 25 feet, at $1.57 $22,850 

25,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.46 36,500 

4,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, 

avej-age lift 30 feet, at |4.88 19,520 

20,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.73 34,600 

2,000 acres, pumping plants for 6 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at ^5.66 11,320 

10,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $2.13 21,30) 

2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 

3,000 acres, fuel and repairs tor 3 inches of water in 120 days, 

average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 5,400 

Breaking and preparing 16,000 acres, at $2.00 32,000 

Putting in alfalfa, 16,000 acres, at $2.25 36,000 

Putting in shade crop of barley, at 50c 8,000 

Taxes 20,000 

Interest, 5 per cent on $300,000 15,000 

Engineering and general supervision 15,000 

Total $279,670 

RECEIPTS. 

Barley, 11,000 acres, at 25 bushels, at 40c $110,000 

Alfalfa, 36,000 acres, good crops, at $18.00 648,000 

Alfalfa, 8,000 acres, average crops, at >?12.00 96,0tX) 

Alfalfa, 20,000 acres, one cutting, at $8.00 160,000 

Total $ 1,014,000 

Net receipts $734,330 

STATEMENT SIXTH YEAR. 

EXPENSES. 

Fuel and repairs, 25,(XM) acres, as in fifth year $36,500 

Fuel and repairs, 20,000 acres, as in fifth year 34,600 

Fuel and repairs, 10,0(X) acres, as in fifth year 21,300 

Fuel and repairs, 2,(XX) acres, as in fifth year 2,180 

Fuel and repairs, 3,000 acres, as in fifth year 5,400 

Breaking and preparing 5,0CI0 acres, at $2.00 10,000 

Putting in alfalfa, 5,000 acres, at $2.25 1 1,250 

Putting in shade crop of l)arle , at 50 cents 2,500 

Taxes 20,000 

Interest 15,000 

Engineering and general supervision 15,(.XX) 

Total $173,730 

RECEIPTS. 

Barley, 5,(X)0 acres, at 25 bushels at 40 cents $50,0a) 

Alfalfa, 45,(X)0 acres, good crops at $18.()0 810,aX) 

Alfalfa, 10,000 acres, average crops at $12.00 120,tKX) 

Alfalfa, 25,000 acres, one cutting at $8.00 200,000 $ 1,180,000 

Net receipts $1,006,270 

With 5,000 acres more to swell the alfalfa receipts next year. 



21 



I have not entered any account of the barley crop, 
except where it gets six or twelve inches of artificial 
water supply in addition to the rainfall while growing. 
I leave the crop where three inches only is pumped to 
barely pay for cutting. Wheat or oats will answer, as 
far as shading the young alfalfa through the first sum- 
mer is concerned; but in general barley will probably 
be the most profitable shade crop. I have not mentioned 
labor as the crop returns given are "net." 

I have not mentioned the propriety of handling cattle 
and hogs along with the alfalfa and barley, but this 
matter is well worth consideration. 

I have not considered it necessary in the above esti- 
mates to make any provision for sinking fund for the 
redemption of the bonds, or to refer at all to the capi- 
talization of the company. In conclusion, I am entirely 
satisfied that the plan herein outlined is the only one by 
which your lands could be made to grow crops with any 
degree of certainty. Yours truly. 



^^5^^^ 



I^^SiiiJLl 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



00DEST5aS73 



# 



